The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that ABC has acquired the television rights to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I and II.  This means they will be the first to show the films on basic cable.  They will be able to air Part I in Spring 2013, and Part II in Winter 2013 on ABC Family.  A while ago we also reported that ABC Family would be the first to air Half-Blood Prince; that will air in late 2011.

“Our viewers have come to know ABC Family as the television destination for the ‘Harry Potter’ films,” Tom Zappala, exec vp of program acquisitions at ABC Family. “They’re enormously beloved by our audience and the world over. We’re thrilled to extend our long-standing relationship with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution to include the final two installments.”

“ABC Family identified very early that the ‘Harry Potter’ movies were destined to become an enormously popular franchise, and they committed to making ABC Family the television home for ‘Harry Potter,’” said Ken Werner, president, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. “This strategy has paid huge dividends for them and all ‘Potter’ fans. We are thrilled by our collaboration over the years and excited to extend the relationship through the final two films.”